Climate activists applied superglue to their hands and stuck them to the front steps of the IPA office. PHOTO: Gillian Aeria

Climate activists superglue themselves to IPA's headquarters

BY GILLIAN AERIA Climate activists superglued themselves to the steps and doors of the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA), blocking the entrance to its Melbourne headquarters yesterday. Members of the climate action group Extinction Rebellion (XR)...

Climate activists superglued themselves to the steps and doors of the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA), blocking the entrance to its Melbourne headquarters yesterday.

Members of the climate action group Extinction Rebellion (XR) aimed to highlight IPA’s conservative agenda, which includes persisting with fossil fuel use, ditching renewables and what XR termed “collusion between corporations and politics”.

During the demonstration five activists, including a teenager and a retiree, superglued their hands to the steps of the IPA's Collins Street headquarters.

Around a dozen police attended the standoff, making one arrest for vandalism.

Protestor and grandfather-of-four Anthony Gleeson said society was ready to deal with climate change, but lobby groups like the IPA were holding everything back.

“The market is ready [for renewable alternatives], and it's organisations like the IPA with vested interests that are stopping it,” Mr Gleeson said.

The non-violent protest began around lunchtime when foot traffic from city workers was at its peak.